USC Chan Magazine | Fall 2011

$1M Gift Largest in USC OT History

In June, the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy was notified that a one million dollar unrestricted legacy gift was bequeathed to the Division. The gift, made by an anonymous alumni donor, is the largest single gift in any form in the nearly seventy year history of occupational therapy at the University of Southern California.

When asked for comment, Associate Dean Florence Clark replied, “I am so touched by the selfless generosity and humility on behalf of the anonymous donor in support of this university which we all so deeply love.” Clark continued to explain that the gift sets an unprecedented benchmark in the context of the entire history of the Division. “The significance of a gift of this magnitude is undeniable,” Clark said, “and because it has been so graciously designated as unrestricted, its impact will one day reverberate throughout the Division’s research, educational, and clinical enterprises.”

According to Clark, the gift is also an emphatic way for the Division to kick-start the recently launched Campaign for the University of Southern California. “I couldn’t imagine any stronger symbol of the steadfast commitment of our alumni, our Trojan Family friends, and the occupational therapy community to the vision and mission of the Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy,” Clark said. “This gift is a definite game-changer,” she said, “and will go such a long way toward ensuring that USC occupational therapy remains a world-class program for generations into the future.”

A legacy gift such as this is one type of charitable giving by which donors can pledge gifts to the university through a legal arrangement in their living trust or will. Gifts to USC can either be designated toward specific purposes or they can be ‘unrestricted’, meaning the gift is allocated by university leadership toward what are deemed to be the most strategically beneficial uses.